Monday, July 16, 2012

Panel finds encroachments in catchment areas of most water bodies

TNN Jul 14, 2012, 03.35AM IST

JAIPUR : A two-member monitoring committee comprising senior advocate Virendra Dangi and advocate A K Bhargav on Friday submitted before the high court a detailed report relating to the encroachments in the catchment areas of Bisalpur dam, Anasagar and Faye Sagar of Ajmer, Kalakh dam of Jobner.

According to the report, there is no encroachment only in the catchment area of Bisalpur dam though the committee found a large number of anicuts but all of them were below the prescribed height of two meters. A large number of plantation was also found in the area.

In Ajmer, the committee found sprawling slums in the catchment areas of Anasagar and even a mall was found constructed in the catchment bed. The committee also found encroachment in the dam area in Jobner near Jaipur.

During their visit to Ramghar Dam, the panel members found illegal excavation of sand from the dried water bed. They asked the authorities to register an FIR against two tractor owners who were found taking sand from the dam water bed.

Virendra Dangi, senior member of monitoring committee, brought it to the notice of the court that while hearing a suo motu petition on encroachment in the catchment of Ramgarh dam, it has been found that not only allotments have been made but also encroachments have been regularized despite implementation of Section 16 of Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 which bars allotment of any land of water bodies to any private persons.

The government had claimed that a large number of allotments made in such areas have been cancelled and a reference for cancellation has been made to the revenue board of Ajmer. On Friday, Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari asked the state government to file the details of the reference made to Revenue Board for cancellation of such allotments by July 30.


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